Now they are, but that took a while. And btw, I've probably been "on the internet" longer than you've known it's existed, in all seriousness. I only say that because that's the second time someone has suggested "I haven't been around much" - and lastly, my "snotty" attitude was reciprocal to the attitude(s) first displayed in this thread - that is all.

Given that I need to grind two types of beans, are there many grinders that provide for a second hopper as an accessory? Or perhaps I would just order the part?

There are at least two dual hopper grinders on the market but neither is in your budget. If your SO has a true allergy you would want separate grinders, if it's an intolerance you could just buy two hoppers (many have a slide at the bottom to seal the hopper when it is removed) and swap them back and forth. There will be some fairly significant cross contamination unless you run 6-8 grams of beans through it before use but if its an intolerance that will be OK.

You started the thread and it took 5 pages for you to contribute much either. I think the more you respond this way though the more your haughty attitude is revealed. You wade in, demand an answer, then get mad and rude when the answer isn't what you expect. Then you assume you have the wisdom to give approval or disapproval to this post or that in this thread like the Pope dispensing blessings or penance.

Back on topic - two milk drinks at a time is a problem for the budget you specified. Buy three second hand Breville's like the one you have (about a $75 investment) and then you can steam two milk pitchers and pull two shots at the same time. Probably would make a great YouTube video too.

I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?

It wouldn't be hard (or expensive) to just order a second hopper with a grinder. The issue with the idea is that each bean type will need a different grind setting in order to make a decent espresso. I can only imagine how many sink shots I'd go through if I was trying to switch bean types for the purpose of one drink of each.

My suggestion? Get a cheaper grinder that will work well for press pot or drip coffee (you will find a variety of these that are much cheaper than an espresso grinder and if you're just using it for drip or press pot it's easy to switch between beans). Then, prepare your decaf and regular coffees consecutively (easily done with a couple small press pots or clever coffee drippers) and use a cheaper espresso machine to steam the milk. You can have your cafe au laits on the weekend without the need of an expensive espresso grinder, and your drinks would probably taste a lot better than if you were to try and make espresso without a decent grinder. And if you ever do decide to delve into the world of espresso, you'd just need to get an espresso grinder.

Wow...absolutely amazing. All this great entertainment and the membership is free...this is the best forum EVER.

justpete has obviously been around the block and knows far more about what he wants (and just about everything else apparently) than any of us. He obviously isn't interested in quality, education, or getting the most bang for his buck...just so long as it's functional and looks pretty on the counter. So if he wants to drop $800 and still end up with crap in a cup...who are we to stand in his way by offering our own practical advise based on years of collective experience in the world of home espresso.

After all, he did ask a very specific question...so should we not give him exactly what he asked for and very obviously deserves.

Cudos to all who are actually still trying to help this...fellow. It is a true testimony to the kind of open, friendly, and inviting community that CG really is.

There are at least two dual hopper grinders on the market but neither is in your budget. If your SO has a true allergy you would want separate grinders, if it's an intolerance you could just buy two hoppers (many have a slide at the bottom to seal the hopper when it is removed) and swap them back and forth. There will be some fairly significant cross contamination unless you run 6-8 grams of beans through it before use but if its an intolerance that will be OK.

It wouldn't be hard (or expensive) to just order a second hopper with a grinder. The issue with the idea is that each bean type will need a different grind setting in order to make a decent espresso. I can only imagine how many sink shots I'd go through if I was trying to switch bean types for the purpose of one drink of each.

1st-line.com has a Ascaso Steel Duo (with a brass boiler for shots and a thermoblock for steaming, separate pumps), and grinder package for $899 including tax and shipping. The Le'lit package mentioned above is a decent choice, too. I think you'd be happier with the Duo though, considering your preference for milk drinks. With its dedicated heating sources and pumps you can pull shots and steam at the same time. The package from 1st-line includes some great extras, like a nice stainless tamper and various steam nozzles. Best of luck, hang in there!

justpete, the OP, got three good responses in a row right after his first post. His response was: "Wow. I'm going to buy a grinder after. Can you guys just recommend an espresso machine and save the lectures for another time?"

Quite obvious from that, and his later acerbic comments, that he came here with some preconceived notion as to the answers he wanted and was not interested in learning anything. Just name a machine, PERIOD!

To be frank, any person stating that they had been a barista holds little weight with me. There are thousands of "baristas" employed in the USA today who, for the rest of their lives, will say, "I was a barista" when all they did was push a button and put the money in to the Starbucks register. Put it into a cup and let me taste it - that is the only true mark of a barista: the product they produce. My guess is that justpete was a PBTC and not much more.

It is also clear that he did not want to do his own homework. He could have spent his time (instead of wasting ours) by going to the online sellers in whom he would do business, see what is offered, check user reviews (plenty on coffeegeek alone), narrow down his choices, and then bring a few favorites to the table to get additional feedback here in the forums. But it was evidently far more convenient for him to use us as his personal shoppers, without giving us any real details upon which we could realistically make an accurate choice. And then he gets rude when he did not get the answers he was looking for.

And to justpete - there are many dozens of people here who have spent a long time making espresso at home. Many who spend time, every day, answering questions like yours. We have wasted our own money, and seen many others waste their money as well, getting junk espresso machines (like the Brevilles), and even those getting better machines, dropping their entire wad and deciding to not buy a grinder. Those original replies were meant to educate you, yet you decided to take a rude stance: "...save the lectures..." were your words. Well, too bad for you. You wonder why some users turned against you to some degree in this thread? Look at your first response (the 4th post in this thread) and see if you can read it with a neutral perspective, and think how it appears to someone who doesn't know you - a disinterested third party. If you can do that, you might be able to see that the only surprising thing is that people continued trying to assist you after that post.

As another poster above stated, too bad this site has no filters that can be enabled by the users here. Another forum does have those, and I have placed only one person in mine. If those filters were in place here, I could say the same about this site, now.

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